Turret-lathe



2- Sheets-Sheet 1.

(No Model.)

' F. H. RICHARDS.

TURRBT LATHE.

Patented May 1, 1.894.

FKMG COMPANY wAsmNaYoN. n. c.

(N0 l llodel.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

' RH. RIOHARDS.

TURR ET LATHE.

618,969. Patented May-1, 1894.

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mi'nesses:

TNE NATIONAL LITHOGRAPHING COMPANY. wAsmmamN. u. c.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FRANCIS H. RICHARDS, OF HARTFORD, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNOR TO WALTER WOOD,OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

TU RRET-LATHE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 518,969, dated May 1,1894.

Application filed December 7,1893. Serial No. 493,067- (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FRANCIS H. RICHARD a citizen of the United States,residing at Hartford, in the county of Hartford and State ofConnecticut, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inTurret-Lathes, of which the following is a specification.

This invention appertains to turret-lathes, and especially relates toimprovements in turret-lockingfand slide-feeding mechanism for theparticular type of machines known as flat-turret lathes.

The chief object of this invention is to pro; vide a simple andeffective turret-locking device which is not dependent upon fineworkmanship for efficiency, but will remain effective after it isconsiderably worn; also, to so construct the locking-mechanism, and soapply it to the turret, that it will occupy but comparatively littlespace relative to the height of said turret and be operable at one sidethereof, to thereby adapt it for use with turrets in which the upperfaces thereof lie very close to the bed of'the machine.

Another object of the invention is to provide a simple and effectiveslide-feed mech anism operableby hand or power, as will be hereinaftermore fully described.

In the drawings accompanying and forming a part of this specification,Figure 1 is aplan or top view of a portion of a turret-lathe, showing myimprovements as applied thereto, a portion of the turret and slide beingbroken away to show the turretclamping mechanism more clearly. Fig. 2 isa side elevation of the same. Fig. 3 is an end view of the same, lookingtoward the left-hand in Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a vertical cross-section ofthe turret-lathe on an enlarged scale, taken in line aa, Fig. 2. Fig. 5is an enlarged horizontal sectional detail of a portion of thefeed-mechanism, in line b-b, Fig. 4. Figs. 6 and 7 are side and endviews, respectively, of the pilot-shaft bearing. Fig. 8 is a side viewof the feed-nut-actuating lever, showing the stop-groove for limitingthe throw thereof. Figs. 9 and 10 are plan and cross-sectional views,respectively, of the wedge-shaped'expansible turret-clamping ring. Figs.11 and 12 are similar views of the supplemental wedge-ring.

slide-ways, 2, 3, for supporting and guiding the turret-slide C. Theturret-slide C is fitted for sliding movement upon the bed B, it beingheldin place upon the slide-Ways of the bedat one side by the usualstrap, 4, and at the opposite side by the depending apron, 5, secured tothe turret-slide by means of a suitable bolt, 5', as most clearly shownin Figs. 1, 2, 3 and 4. This turret-slide is centrally and verticallybored, as shown at 6,

(see Fig. 4,) to receive the depending cylindrical column or stem, 7, ofthe turret D.,

which column is in the nature of an annular flange formed integral withsaid turret. The central bore 6 of the turret-slide, as will be seen byreference to the drawings, is of a diameter considerably greater thanthe external diameter of the turret-column 7, to permit theinterposition of the turret-clamping devices between said column andslide, and the requisite lateral movement thereof, as will behereinafter more fully described.

Referring to "Fig. 4 of the drawings, which illustrates the preferredconstruction of turrot-clamping mechanism: the turret-slide C has aninternally-projectingannular flange, 8, at the upper end of thebore 6,the inner face of said flange being beveled or inclined as shown at 8',on lines converging from the inner to the outer edge thereof, the outeredge of said flange being of but slightly greater diameter than theexternal diameter of the turret-column 7. The turret-column is shown, inthe figure referred to, as provided at its lower end with anoutwardly-projecting annular flange, 9. This flange may bein-the natureof a ring internally screw-threaded, and screwed upon the turret-columnat its lower end as shown, or, if desired, may be bolted thereto in anysuitable manner. This ring, or flange, constitutes one member of theturret -.clamping mechanism. Loosely surrounding the turret-column 7,and interposed between the flange 9, fixed to the turret-column, and theflange 8 of the turret-slide, is an annular clamp-ring-actuating wedge,10, which is divided or slotted transversely at one side, as shown at11, Figs. 1 and 9, the adjacent ends having formed thereon projectingbosses or hubs, 12, 2', as most clearly shown in Fig. 9. The bore 6 inthe turretslide is recessed at one side, as shown at 13, Fig. 1, toaccommodate and permit the movement of the projecting bosses upon theannular wedge 10, and the turret-slide is transversely bored from sideto side in axial alignment with said bosses. This bore is screwthreadedand receives the clamp-screws 14 and 15, which extend therethrough fromopposite sides of the turret-slide and hear at their inner ends againstthe hubs or bosses of the annular wedge-ring 10, as most clearly shownin Fig. 1. The upper face of the said wedge 10 is inclined from itsouter edge inward and engages the correspondingly-inclined face of aturret-clamping ring, 16, which, as shown in Fig. 4, is triangular incross-section, is interposed between the turret-column and turretslide,and bears at its inner face against the turret-column and at its outerface against the inclined face 8' of the flange 8 of the turret-slide,the said clamp-ring being divided or slotted transversely at one side topermit circumferential expansion and contraction. By this constructionof turret-clamping mechanism, it will be seen that, when the clampscrews14 and 15 are loosened or screw-ed ontwardly, the clamp-ring-actuatingwedge 10 is allowed to expand, thus releasing the clampring 16 fromimpingement between the turret-column and flange of the turret-slide,thereby permitting the turretto be freely rotated as desired. When it isdesired to clamp the turret and lock the same against rotation withrelation to the turret-slide, it is simply necessary toiturn theclamp-screw 15 inward by means of the lever 15secured to its outer end,which forces the hubs 12 and 12 at the ends of the annular wedge towardeach other, thus contracting the said wedge diametrically, which, owingto its inclined upper face, forces the clamp-ring upward and inward intotight impingement between the turret-column and the flange of theturret-slide, thereby tightly clamping the turret against rotation withrelation to said slide. By constructing the turret-slide with an annularinternallyprojecting flange, and tapering said flange on lines radiatingfrom a common center, as shown in Fig. 4, to thus form a conical recessconcentric to the axis of the turret, the accurate centering of theturret with relation of the slide-opening is positively secured as theclamp-ring is forced upward between said tapered flange-face on theturret-column during the operation of clamping the turret with relationto the slide.

Referring to the slide-feed mechanism, the necessary power for actuatingthe said mechanism is supplied by a worm-shaft or feedscrew, 20, whichmay be driven from the lathe-spindle (not shown) by gearing, or bypulleys and a belt in a well-known manner, said shaft being supported atits ends in suitable bearings, 21, (one only of which is shown) fixed tothe bed of the machine. Secured to the side of the bed of the machineslightly above the said feed-screw 20, as shown most clearly in Figs. 2,4 and 13, is a rack, 22, toothed at its upper face, as shown at 23; andmeshing with said rack, is a pinion, 24, secured to the inner end of thepilot-wheel-shaft 25, journaled in the bearing, .26, supported in theapron 5 secured to and depending from the left-hand side of theturret-slide C. As a means for securing said pilot-shaft bearing to theapron 5, the bearing is externally screwthreaded at its inner end andfitted toxa screwthreaded transverseopening formed through the apron, asshown most clearly in Figs. 4 and 13, a jam-nut, 27, being providedtoprevent accidental turning thereof. Secured to the lower inner face ofthe apron 5, is a'shaftsupporting bar, 28, having a smooth groove cutlongitudinally in its upper faceto receive and support the feed-screw,pdprevent sagging or deflection there .lhis shaftsupporting bar 28 isgrooved or transversely slotted near its left-hand end,-as shown in Fig.5, to receive a vertically-adjustable feednut, 29, which nut is adaptedto be thrown into engagement with the feed-screwi when it is desired tofeed the turret-slide by said screw. As a means for supportingandadjusting said feed-nut, the crank-shaft 30 is provided with aneccentric crank-pin at one end entering said feed-nut. This crank-shaftis supported in a bearing, 31, secured to the lower end of theslide-apron 5, and has a handlever, 32, secured to its outer end, bymeans of which the crank-shaft may be rotated to throw said feed-nutinto and out of engagement with the worm-shaft 20, with which thethreads formed in the upper face of the fcednut mesh. Secured to theouter-endof the crank-shaft bearing 31 is a detent stop-pin, 33, whichenters a radial stop-groove 34, in the inner face of the crank-shaftlever, and limits the movement thereof. Secured to the outer end of thepilot-shaft, is a pilot-wheel, 35, having the usual arms, 36, by meansof which the said shaft and its pinion 24 may be rotated to feed theslide said shaft and its pinion 24 may be rotated to feed the slide byhand, the feed-nut 29 being thrown outof eugagement with the worm-shaft20 during the hand-feed operation. By the construction and organizationof feed-mechanism as herein described, I secure an effective feed of theturret-slide, operable by poweinthrough the shaft 20 or by hand throughthe medium of the pilot-wheel 35, securing simplicity inconstruction andefiectiveness in operation. Another important feature of thisconstruction is, that the parts constituting the slide-feed mechanismmay be quickly set up or disas- IIO sembled, and are readily accessiblefor adjustment and repairs.

Having thus described my invention, I claim- 1. In a turret-lathe of theclass specified, in combination, a vertically-bored turret-slide havingan internal conically-tapered annular flange at its upper edge, a turrethaving an externally-flanged column extending into the bore of theslide, a clamp-ring interposed between the turret-column andslide-flange and having oppositely-disposed inclined faces, one of whichbears against the tapered face of the slide-flange, and a split-ringinterposed between the clamp-ring aforesaid and'the flange of theturret-column and having an inclined face in bearing contact with one ofthe inclined faces of said clamp-ring, and

means for contractin gthe last-mentioned ring, substantially asdescribed and for the purpose set forth.

2. The combination with the verticallybored turret-slide having theinternally-pro jecting annular flange, of the turret revolubly mountedthereon and having the depending column projected into the bore of theslide with the external flange at its lower end,

, a clamping-ring wedge-shaped in cross-section interposed between theinner face of the slide-flange and outer face of the turret-column, anexpansible or flexible wedge interposed between said clamp-ring and theflange of the column, and means, substantially as described, forcontracting said wedge diametthe wedge to force the clamp-ring upward torically, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

3. In a turret-lathe, the combination of the turret-slide verticallybored to receive a depending column upon the turret and having aninternally projecting flange conically bored from the inner side to forminclined faces, a turret having a depending stem extended into the boreof the slide, a ring or collar secured to the lower end of said stembeing interposed between the clamp-ring and turret-stem flange, and thewedge-contracting device consisting of the clamp-screws extended throughscrew-threaded openings in the turret-slide at opposite sides thereofand hearing at their inner ends against projections upon the adjacentends of the annular wedge, which screws are adapted to contractvertically and centrally bored turret-slide havingtheinwardly-projecting annularflange beveled substantially as describedat its inner face, the turret having a depending stem of lesser externaldiameter than the internal diameter of the bore of the slide and havingan outwardly-projected annular flange at its lower end, a series oftransversely-divided annular wedges loosely surrounding the stem andinterposed between the flange of the stem and flange of theturret-slide, one of said wedges coinciding in cross-sectional shapewith the cross-sectional shape of the space between the slide-flange,turret-stem and adjacent wedge, and turret-clamping screws extendingtransversely through the turretslide and directly engaging one of saidwedges to contract the same and force the adjacent wedge outward inbinding-contact with the turret, and means substantially as describedfor actuating said screw, all constructed substantially as and for thepurpose set forth.

5. In a turret-lathe, in combination,the vertically-bored turret-slidehaving the internal conically-tapered annular flange at the upper edgethereof, the turret having a depending stem of lesser diameter than theinternal diameter of the bore of the slide and having an external flangeat its lower end, a series of transversely-divided annular rings looselysurrounding the stem and interposed between the flange of the stem andflange of the turret-slide, one of said wedges coinciding incross-sectional shape with the cross-sectional shape of the spacebetween the slide-flange, turret-stem and adjacent Wedge, and means inconnection with one of said wedges and adapted forcontracting the sameto clamp the turret, substantially as described.

6. In a turret-lathe of thev class specified, in combination, avertically-bored turretslide having an internal conically-taperedannular centering flange, a turret having an externally-flanged sternextended into the bore of said slide, a split-ring interposed betweenthe tapered face of the slide-flange and the stem of the turret, a splitwedge-ring in terposed between the first wedge-ring and the flange ofthe turret-stem, and clamping-mechanism in direct connection with saidwedge ring and adapted for contracting the same to clamp the turret,substantially as described.

FRANCIS H. RICHARDS.

Witnesses:

FRED. J. DoLE, N. E. C. WHITNEY.

